Fuel pump



United States Patent This invention relates to a fuel pump, and more spe' cifically, to a coin operated fuel of relatively simple and inexpensive construction.

Fuel pumps, such as commercial gasoline pumps, are

"of complicated construction largely because means must be provided for indicating to a purchaser the amount, in both dollars and cents and in gallons, of the gasoline pumped thereby. Should the retail price of gasoline change from time to time, the machine must be adjustable to show the new price on the meter for any given volume ofpumped fuel. To adapt such a pump for coin operation, it is apparent that even further complexities would be necessary in an already intricate mechanism.

The present invention is concerned with a fuel pump of relatively simple construction which is particularly well adapted for coin operation. Such a pump is desirable for use in service stations which might then be able to offer night service to motorists without the necessity of providing an attendant for pumping the fuel. Furthermore, even where an attendant or attendants are present, such a pump would allow them greater freedom, during whatever working hours might be selected, for performing other duties such as automotive repair and maintenance work.

Accordingly, it is a main obicct of the present invention to provide a fuel pump apparatus of simple construction and operation which is especially adapted for coin operation. Another object is to provide a pump construction having reciprocating fuel metering means, such means being adjustable to control the volume of fuel pumped in accordance with changes in the price level of the fuel. A further object is to provide a coin-operable fuel pump which is actuated by the insertion of a coin plus the opening of a nozzle valve, the pump apparatus being inoperative to pump fuel unless both acts occur. A still further object is to provide a coin-operable fuel pump which includes reciprocable fuel metering means, the stroke of the metering means being related to the denomination of the coin insertable into the apparatus and being adjustable in accord with changes in fuel volume deliverable for a given price. Still another object is to provide a coin-operable pumping apparatus which, in addition to its simplicity, is safe for use by the general public for the pumping of inflammable liquics.

Other objects will appear from the specification and drawings in which the FIGURE is a somewhat schematic and diagrammatic elevational view, taken partly in section, of the interior of a fuel pump embodying the present invention.

In the structure illustrated in the drawings, the numeral 16 generally designates a fuel pump embodying the present invention, the outline of the pump casing or housing being indicated by broken line 11. Beneath the pumping apparatus is a fuel reservoir which is diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings and is represented by numeral 12. As is well known, such a reservoir generally consists of one or more tanks located beneath the ground surface.

Within casing lit are coin-actuated control means 13, fluid pumping means 14, pump driving means 15, main valve 16, pilot valve 17 and fuel metering means 18. Also within the casing 11 is a flow meter 39. Since meter 19, pump 14 and motor 15 are entirely conventional, a general description of these parts is believed suificient for purposes of this disclosure.

Between the reservoir 12 and pump 14 is a main intake pipe 2i). Leading from the pump, pipe 22, communicates with the cylindrical chamber 23 of main valve The pump is provided with a rotor shaft 24 carrying a pulley 2.5 which is operatively connected by belt 26 to the drive pulley 27 of electric motor 15. Thus, when motor 15 is in operation, shaft 24 of the pump rotates to operate the pumping mechanism and force fluid through the flow passages of pipes 23 and 22. from reservoir 12 to the main valve 16.

Valve 16 is a two position valve. That is, its valve member 23 is adapted to slide within cylindrical chamber 23 between two alternate positions. When the valve member is in the first position shown in the drawings, one of its ends bears against shoulder 29 within the valve chamber and valve spring 31 is in a state of compression. In its alternate or second position, the valve member 2% has its opposite end face bearing against the apert-ured end wall 31 of the valve casing, the valve member being moved and held in that position by helical spring 3%. The conduit 312 communicates with the chamber 2? through wall 31 of the valve casing and extends between inain valve 16 and pilot valve 17.

Pilot valve 17 has a cylindrical valve chamber 33 in which pilot valve member 34 is slidably mounted. Like the member of the main valve, pilot valve member 34 is movable between two positions. A spring 3-5 bears against one end of the pilot valve member and urges it into the normal or extended position shown in the drawings. At its opposite end, the valve member 34 is provided with a plunger 36 which, together with coil 37, constitutes a solenoid for shifting the valve member into a retracted position. In other words, when the coil 37 of the solenoid is actuated, the valve member will move to the left, as viewed in the drawings, against the force of compression spring 35.

Pilot valve member 34 is provided with a pair of axially spaced annular recesses and 3%. Tube all communicates with pipe intermediate the pump and main valve and also communicates at its opposite end with the chamber 33 of the pilot valve at a point opposite conduit 32. A bleed tube dll joins with pipe 26' beneath pump 24 and communicates with pilot valve chamber 3.3 at a point spaced axially from the discharge opening of tube 40.

When the pilot valve member 34 is in the position shown tube 4% and conduit 31. are in open communication with each other and, upon operation of pump 14, fuel will flow from pipe 22 through the pilot valve and into chamber 23 of the main valve 16. Fluid pressure against the end of main valve member 28 will hold that member in its first position, against the force of spring 3t}, as sh wn in the drawings. However, when solenoid 37 is energized, pilot valve member 34 will shift to the left into its retracted position to shut off the inflow from tube 4t} and to place conduit 32. and bleed tube 41 in communication through pilot valve chamber 33. With the pressure against the main valve member 23 so relieved, spring 3%} is then able to shift the main valve member towards the left into its second position.

The fuel metering device it; comprises a hollow cylinder d2 closed at its ends by end plates 53 and 44. Within the cylinder is a reciprocable piston 45. End plate 43 is centrally apertured for slidably receiving the actuating bar 46 of a limit switch 47. The limit switch is securely attached to end plate 43 by a mounting member 48.

At the opposite end of the metering device, end plate 44 is centrally apertured for threadedly receiving the threaded tubular portion 4% of limit switch mounting member 50. As shown in the drawings, limit switch 51 is secured to mounting member and its actuating bar 52 passes through the bore of threaded portion 4?. At

' 3 its free end, mounting member Sll is provided with a knurled adjustment knob 53 for rotation of the mounting member within the threaded central opening of end plate 4 4.

It will be observed that each end plate 43 and 44 is provided with a second opening threadedly receiving fittings 54 and 55 respectively. Fitting 54 is connected to one end of conduit 56 which communicates at its opposite end with chamber 23 of main valve 36. Similarly, fitting 55 is secured to a conduit 57 which also has its opposite end in communication with the main valve chamber.

A pair of fuel discharge pipes or conduits 53 and 59 also communicate with the chamber 23 of the main valve and, as shown in the drawings, merge to form a single pipe 68 leading into flow meter 19. Discharge pipe all leads from the flow meter and, at its free end, is connected to flexible hose 62'. A valve-equipped nozzle assembly n3 is provided at the free end of hose 6?. and has a spring-loaded valve actuating lever 6d for the manual control of fiuid flowing therethrough. Since nozzle 63 is entirely conventional, description of its structure in greater detail is believed unnecessary herein.

A bypass pipe 65 extends between discharge pipe 61 and intake pipe 2% and is provided with check valves 66 and 67. A short branch 68 of the bypass pipe also places that pipe in communication with inflow pipe 22 disposed between pump 14 and the main valve 16. Between fiow meter 19 and the connection between discharge pipe 61 and bypass pipe 55, the discharge pipe is provided with a check valve 69.

Like pilot valve member 34, the valve member 23 of main valve 16 is provided with a pair of axially spaced annular recesses 70 and 71. Depending upon the position of the main valve member, these recesses and the enlarged portions of the valve member disposed therebetween direct the flow of fuel through the main valve between the metering device 1%, pump 14 and nozzle 63.

Operation of the apparatus is initiated and controlled by the coin-actuated control means diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings and designated by the numeral 13. The basic control components are a coin receiver 72, a counting relay 73 and a holding relay 74. Lead '75 electrically connects the receiver and counting relay while the latter is in circuit with electric motor 15 and holding relay 74 by means of leads 76 and 77. Wires 78 and 79 respectively connect limit switches 47 and 51 with the holding relay. In addition, the holding relay is electrically connected to solenoid coil 37 of the pilot valve 17 by lead 30.

The coin receiver and the counting and holding relays are entirely conventional and therefore their circuits and structure need not be described in detail. Upon the insertion of a coin into receiver 72, counting relay 73 is actuated and the circuit to electric motor 15 is closed. If several coins are inserted into the receiver, the counting relay structure will make successive shifts in its position and thereby count the number of coins fed into the machine. Preferably, the counting relay structure is mechanically connected by shaft 81 to an indicated device 82 which will indicate, such as by the position of a hand 33, the amount of money placed by a customer into the machine.

Operation of the fuel pumping apparatus commences when one or more coins are inserted into the machine and the operating lever 64- is depressed to open the valve of nozzle 63. As already indicated, insertion of a coin into the machine closes the electric circuit for motor 15 so that pump 14 will be in operation. Fuel is pumped from the reservoir 12 into pipe 22 and tube 40. With the pilot valve member 34 in the position illustrated, fuel will flow into conduit 32 to maintain the valve member 28 of the main valve 16 in the illustrated position. Thus, fuel flowing upwardly through the main pipe 22 will pass into chamber 23 of the main valve and will be directed by the recessed valve member 28 into conduit 56 leading to the opening in end plate 43 of the metering device 18. The inflowing fuel will force piston 45 towards the right and, as the piston is so urged, fuel in the right hand portion of the cylinder 42 will pass out of the metering device through conduit 57. Conduit 57 in turn communicates with pipes 5% and 69 so that the displaced fuel will iiow through the main valve 16 and flow meter into discharge pipe 61, hose 62 and nozzle s3. Like the usual flow meter, meter 19 will register the volume of fuel flowing therethrough.

Piston 45 of metering device 18 reaches the end of its stroke when it engages the axially movable bar 52 of limit switch 51. When such contact is made, limit switch 51 signals the holding relay which then energizes solenoid 37. Pilot valve memberfid moves to the left against the force of spring to obstruct the ilow through pipe to and to place conduit 32 and bleed tube 41 in communication. As fuel bleeds from the end of chamber 23 of the main valve 16, spring 39 urges valve member =28 towards the left into its second position. In that position, conduit 56 communicates with discharge pipe 5-8 While pipe 22 and conduit 57 are in open communication. The outlet opening of pipe 59 is closed by the end portion of the valve member. Consequently, the flow of fuel through the main valve and the metering device is reversed. Fuel flows upwardly member 34 returns to its original position under the infiuence of compression spring 35. The sequence of operation is then repeated, provided that a sufiicient number of coins have been inserted into the machine so that the counting relay circuit remains closed.

The cylinder 42 is of such size that its volume exceeds the maximum fuel volume for the smallest denomination coin insertable into the machine. For example, if the machine is adapted so that it will accept only quarters, then the volume of cylinder 42 will substantially exceed the maximum volume of fuel valued at 25 cents, taking into consideration and making allowance for possible price changes in future years. Then, in setting up the apparatus for operation, the operator will adjust knob 53 of the limit switch mounting member 5%} so that the stroke of piston 45, as controlled by the contact bars of the limit switches, will be such that the fuel displaced from the cylinder with each stroke will be the exact volume amount for the value of the inserted coin, i.e., 25 cents. If a plurality of coins are inserted into the machine by a customer, then piston 45 will execute a like number of strokes in pumping the desired amount of fuel.

If the machine is adapted to take coins of "different denomination, for example nickels and quarters, then cylinder 42 should be of a size to accommodate more than 5 cents worth of fuel. Upon appropriate adjustment of knob 53, the stroke of piston 45 will be adjusted so that with each stroke exactly 5 cents worth of fuel will be pumped from the metering device. For each quarter inserted into the machine, the piston will execute five such strokes.

Check valve 69 prevents fuel from flowing back through hose 62 and pipe 61 into flow meter 19. Should expansion occur in fuel remaining in the hose following a pumping operation, it will drain into bypass pipe through check valve 66 when the nozzle is hung upon a suitable fitting in the casing.

Check valve 67 prevents the reverse flow of fuel back to the reservoir through pipe 68 and bypass pipe 65 unless the fluid pressure is sufhciently great to unseat the check valve member from its seat. It should be pointed out that the member of check valve 67, which acts as pressure relief valve, is under considerably greater spring tension than the member of check valve as. Thus, check valve 66 will open readily to permit fuel to flow from the hose into bypass pipe 65 at the end of a pumping operation but check valve 67 will open only when pump 14 is in full operation but for some reason the discharge of fuel from the apparatus is prevented. This will ordinarily occur only when a coin or coins have been inserted into the receiver so that pump 1 is set in operation but the nozzle valve 63 remains closed. in such a case, pump 14 will continue to operate but fuel will flow from pipe 22 into pipes 6% and 65 where it will again enter pipe 26) between the reservoir and the pump. Piston 45 will remain motionless until the manually controlled nozzle valve is finally opened and, at that time, fuel will be metered and discharged in the manner already described.

The apparatus of this invention has been described as operated by electric motor 15 and, while such a driving means is desirable, it is to be understood that pump shaft 24 might also be adapted for manual rotation.

While in the foregoing I have described an embodiment of the present invention in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many of these details may be varied without departing from the spirit and principles of this invention.

I claim:

1. in a coin-operated fuel pumping apparatus, a metering device having a cylinder equipped with flow ports at opposite ends thereof and having a reciprocable piston therein, a main valve equipped with a valve member movable between first and second positions, a fuel reservoir, fuel-pumping means communicating with said reservoir and said main valve, fluid flow conduits extending between said main valve, and said flow ports at opposite ends of said cylinder, a discharge conduit extending from said main valve, said valve member when in said first position directing fluid from said pumping means to the flow port in one end of said cylinder and from the opposite end of said cylinder into said discharge passage, and when in said second position directing fluid into said opposite end of said cylinder and out of said one end into said discharge passage, electrically-actuated means for moving said valve member between said first and second positions, said metering device being provided with limit switches electrically connected with said last-mentioned means for shifting said valve member between said first and second positions when said piston reaches the end of its stroke, coin-receiving means electrically connected with said valve moving means, said pumping means and said limit switches to render the same electrically operable for one complete piston stroke when a coin of predetermined denomination is inserted therein, said pumping means being operative to pump fluid from said reservoir when a coin is inserted within said coin-receiving means, said piston having a displacement equal to an amount of fuel having the value of said coin of predetermined denomination, said piston upon movement between the limit switches at opposite ends of said cylinder displacing a predetermined quantity of fuel therefrom, said discharge conduit being provided with a nozzle and a normally-closed nozzle valve at the free end thereof, and secondary passage means communicating with said reservoir for directing the flow of fluid from said pumping means back to said reservoir when a coin is inserted in said receiving means to actuate said pump and said nozzle valve remains closed.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said means for moving said valve member between said first and second positions comprises a solenoid-operated pilot valve having a valve member movable between extended and retracted positions, a fluid flow conduit extending between said pilot valve and said fluid passage means, a second fluid flow conduit extending between said pilot valve and one end of said main valve, whereby, when said pilot valve member is in one of its extended and retracted positions fluid flows from said passage means to said main valve for moving said main valve member into said first position and when said pilot valve member is in the other of its positions fluid drains from said main valve through said second fluid flow conduit, said. main valve being provided with spring means for biasing said main valve member into said second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,427,429 Waite et al Sept. 16, 1947 2,564,015 Lillig Aug. 14, 1951 2,673,012 Harrington Mar. 23, 1954 2,754,950 Harris a- July 17, 1956 

1. IN A COIN-OPERATED FUEL PUMPING APPARATUS, A METERING DEVICE HAVING A CYLINDER EQUIPPED WITH FLOW PORTS AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF AND HAVING A RECIPROCABLE PISTON THEREIN, A MAIN VALVE EQUIPPED WITH A VALVE MEMBER MOVABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, A FUEL RESERVOIR, FUEL-PUMPING MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID RESERVOIR AND SAID MAIN VALVE, FLUID FLOW CONDUITS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID MAIN VALVE, AND SAID FLOW PORTS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CYLINDER, A DISCHARGE CONDUIT EXTENDING FROM SAID MAIN VALVE, SAID VALVE MEMBER WHEN IN SAID FIRST POSITION DIRECTING FLUID FROM SAID PUMPING MEANS TO THE FLOW PORT IN ONE END OF SAID CYLINDER AND FROM THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CYLINDER INTO SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGE, AND WHEN IN SAID SECOND POSITION DIRECTING FLUID INTO SAID OPPOSITE END OF SAID CYLINDER AND OUT OF SAID ONE END INTO SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGE, ELECTRICALLY-ACTUATED MEANS FOR MOVING SAID VALVE MEMBER BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, SAID METERING DEVICE BEING PROVIDED WITH LIMIT SWITCHES ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED WITH SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEANS FOR SHIFTING SAID VALVE MEMBER BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS WHEN SAID PISTON REACHES THE END OF 